Travellers’ Blog Entry No. 13

The Presidential Debate

Two Germans, a big pizza, an empty hotel room and the presidential debate.
It was early evening in America and we watched the first Presidential Debate on TV - with 70 Million others.
In Germany, these debates are "in fashion" since 2002. They are popular, but not as popular as this Presidential Debate here in America.Seeing John McCain and Barack Obama standing at their lectern in front of a dark blue wall on a red carpet, no visible audience and the only thing between them was the host - it was some kind of impressive.


It was a conflict of the generations: the old Senator McCain with his silver hair, lots of make up in his face and forced facial expressions, against the young, dynamic Senator Obama with his healthy tint, bright eyes and winning smile.
During the financial crisis, which shakes the country, the people might wish to have a healthy and strong president - optically, Obama would be the right choice.
But previousl to the debate McCain got much credit - people might want a president with experience, who can bring the ship home safely. McCain gambled away this credit soon.Two weeks ago he claimed America's economy as "healthy and strong", but needed to confess, that there is a "crisis" some hours later.
His reaction on the crisis starts with insults to the greedy "fat cats" on Wall Street (from the lips of a multi-Millionaire, who has got seven houses and thirteen cars) and on Tuesday of the last week, it turned out that McCain hadn't read the "Paulsen draft" which contains not more than three pages.
McCain demands to move the debate with Obama on to another date, after finding the rescue package for the nation.
Indirectly, this was an extortion. Critics were heard even from the Republicans. Even Mike Huckabee, his opponent from the primaries, called McCain's rejection a "huge mistake" and agreed with Barack Obama in his presidential ridicule about multi-tasking: "You can not just say: 'Stop the world - I cancel everything!'"
Doesn't he have an over-view about the economy or doesn't he have any answers on the questions which arise from that crisis? His final solution: The stock exchange supervision boss will be fired - a priviledge that even the President does not have.


McCain's lack of serenity during a crisis and his ability to find a solution soon, was alarmingly. Barack Obama remained calm. So calm, that the Republicans accused that he does not care about the United States.
But new polls show that most of the Americans think that Obama has more competence in the economy than his opponent McCain.


These differences of experiences were not visible during the debate. Both knew the names of important leaders - a stumbling block for previous candidates. Though McCain tried three times to pronunce the name of Iran's leader Achmadinejad correctly.
You could hear some laughter from the audience.
McCain tried to underline his age and experience. Many times he said: "Senator Obama doesn't understand..." - Obama's reaction was an indulgent smile.
What was very irritating and frustrating to hear: the candidates did not speak about the financial crisis, which is the worst crisis since 1929. The host, Jim Lehrer, tried to worm out some details about changes in their political program, when the economy needs to be rescued with 700 billion US-Dollars. The candidates did not want to speak about the new indebtedness, no matter how hard and desperately Lehrer asked.


Often, while Obama was speaking, McCain signaled with a painful and sarcastic distorted face, that he just doesn't like the guy standing next to him. "Good job, John" said Obama smiling at the end with a handshake. McCain, in silence, looked through him and pulls away his hand.


Obama's gesture will bring him much more credit points than the obvious dis-like that can be seen in McCain's face.We enjoyed the Presidential Debate - most of the political experts said that there was no obvious winner - this will bring even more tension in the election campaign.I think that such a debate can show much about the candidate. It can show much more about a candidate than speeches in front of his peers from the party.


During this debate is has become obvious that Barack Obama is much more likeable than McCain. While McCain tries to attack Obama's reputed knowledge and lack of experience, Obama stayed on a friendly level.


This behavior, some sub-intellectual and emotional ignorant people called it "inferior position", showed that Obama is much more sensitive and intelligent than his rude opponent McCain - being a nice guy in front of your hardest contender is a skill which only a few people have and which is, I think, of a fundamental importance for a president.

Travellers’ Blog Entry No. 12

Haight Ashbury

We'd been again in Haight Ashbury for a short visit and today we met a doctor of the "Haight Ashbury Free Clinic".
He tells us something about the Clinics and his work in the 60s and nowadays.

The Haight Ashbury Free Clinic is today - like 40 years ago - a place to refuge for drug addicts, alcoholics, homeless and sick people without health insurance.
Those, who come to the Victorian house with the painted hallways and posters of rock concerts at the corner of Haight and Clayton Street setting, will be treated free of charge.

"Peace, joy, pancake," is written on the walls. "Love" and "Led Zeppelin".
"Health care is a right and not a privilege that is the motto of the clinic, until today," explains David, the doctor with the white hair.
It was 1967, the first "neighborhood clinic" in the United States, which quickly turned into a place to go for drug-addicted hippies and young runaways.

With subsititudies from the city, 600 volunteers and 185 employees, the Free Clinic with branch offices in other parts of the city, treats 20 000 patients, now.

"The problems today are much bigger," says the 60-year-old David. "Back in the 60’s and 70’s people came here after bad LSD trips or wanted help with STDs. Today we have much stronger drugs, long-term addicts with chronic diseases, diabetes, AIDS, hepatitis and often psychiatric problems."

Many patients, leave the clinic after a short time - "We are totally underpaid, it lacks in all corners, but we do not give up," says the doctor and thinks, that his tireless commitment comes from the "remaining spirit and idealism of the 60;s" too.

To us German people, this may sound a little strange, because having a health insurance is a basic thing in our country.
The insurance is a must, it is partly paid by the company you're working for.
If you go to a doctor in Germany, the only thing you have to pay for is a toll of 15 Dollars, which is obligate since (do not know what you mean here with the word ‘since’. Perhaps ‘for’?) or do you mean the law changed and for the last 2 years it is now a requirement?)2 years.
Everything, except "ununsual" treatments like teeth bleaeching at the dentist, are paid by your health insurance company.
If you have a "private" health insurance, you pay the treatments in advance - but you get the money back from you insurance.

It is to me unbelievable, why that there is no obligate and affortable health insurance system in the Number One Industrial Country in the world.?
In America you can tell stories for people, who lost their houses, just because they became ill - maybe very bad ill- had no health insurance and had to pay for their own treatments over years!

It is one of the major problems in the USA, which causes poverty.
It is one of the major tasks, which do the presidential candidates have to face: the guarantee for everyone to have a affordtable health insurance.

If you want to support the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, please visit http://www.hafci.org/

Travellers’ Blog Entry No. 11

San Francisco, Haight Ashbury - 40 years after.

We followed the "Scenic Drive", which leads through the city of San Francisco, passes the famous sights. The Scenic Drive brought us to the legendary hippie district "Haight Ashbury", named after the two streets which cross there.

Photographed a thousand times - the Lady's legs

Houses in different colors, "smoke shops", many people and sunshine let the district look beautiful. The smell of marijuana and incense is in the streets. What lacks is only the Voice of Scott McKenzie, singing the flower-power anthem "San Francisco - Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair". I had to go in some of the many clothing stores.
One amazing shop called "Held Over - from Hip to Hippie" is a second-hand-shop, which sells clothes since 1978. Special about it: The clothes are very, very old - original skirts and jackets from the 70s and 80s, even smokings from the 60s can be found there!
When I saw the dresses, I was reminded of the old photos of mom and dad - they wore the same clothes in the 70s!
Great store to look and buy - we bought a brown leather jacket from the 70s.
We visited two of the uncountable "smoke shops" which sell pipes, cigars, cigarettes, poster, postcards, sunglasses and other stuff: You want a light-green pipe with pink little flowers on it? You can get it there.
We bought postcards with "The Doors" and "The Beatles" and with Jimi Hendrix on them.

The shop owner looks like a man originally from the 60s and 70s. His black hair was held by a yellow bandana, his batik t-shirt makes me feels dizzy. He speaks with a smokey voice when he tells me about the Haight Ashbury:

"At that time, summer 1967, I lived for three U.S. dollars rent per week with 70 people in a community house, some slept in the bathtub, everyone was welcome." One day, it was early morning, he woke up because he heard great guitar music. "It was Jimi Hendrix playing just on the street corner and in an instant, thousands flocked together."
He pointed on a house: "Janis Joplin lived there, just across the street from her lover Jimi Hendrix."

Is he talking about Jimi Hendrix? THE Jimi Hendrix - god of guitars? When Georg and I are in our favourite pub in our hometown, the "Rockcafé", we hear his songs, when sing along with "All Along The Watchtower" and "Hey Joe" - our best friend has got 20 posters of this legend on the walls in his house - and now this man, in front if me, is talking about Jimi playing at the street corner one morning? He is talking about his house?

The 60s, which are history and legend to us, become real. Yes, this time really happend and we are standing in Haight Ashbury. Maybe at the same place on the sidewalk, where Jimi and Janis walked along. This is amazing!

But the Love and Peace dreams are far away from the hard Haight Street reality. Homelessness, drug dealing, alcoholism, fights and theft are on the agenda.
"People have discouraged us to visit the Haight district," says Paula Feisel, a woman in the fifties, from Texas. "But I feel quite safe now. It isn't as bad as I expected!"

And it is really not as bad as it is discribed by the shop owner. We saw many "homeless" people, with signs and plastic cups, begging for money - but as much as usual in San Francisco. My guess is, that the "dark" side of the Haight Ashbury district comes to the surface, when the sun sets, when the tourists are back in their hotels, when the shops are closed - maybe at this time the streets become dangerous.

But many residents, homeowners and business owners are alarmed for years.

"They are no flower children anymore," said Arthur, the shop owner, and pointed on the people sitting in front of his store. "They take hard drugs, having fights on the streets, pee in blocks and there are heroin syringes stuck in the flower boxes!" Arthur is a 64-year-old ex-hippy and a writer, besides his shop. For 34 years he lived on the street corner of Haight and Ashbury in the second floor of an old Victorian house. "I also put flowers in my long hair", asserts Evan, now with very short hair.

Together with other residents, he has launched an initiative to get the homeless away from the road. "The city doesn't do anything against young people, sleeping in the Golden Gate Park and on the Haight Street, begging for money.". Arthur accuses and mourns the old hippie years. "We had much better drugs and searched for the enlightenment, wanted to change the world, studied Oriental philosophy, demonstrated against the Vietnam War and fought for social justice."

"The original movement is not dead, yet", he says with conviction. "Every day people flocking to the street sign Haight / Ashbury and take pictures, as if it were the Eiffel Tower. They are looking for meaning in a place, where 40 years ago, visions were born."

We left Ashbury with a new leather jacket and the head full of new impressions.
What a wonderful district. Many people to meet - today there was not enough time to see every aspect of Haight Ashbury.

Georg and his new 70s leather jacket, standing on top of the "Twin Peaks"

Travellers’ Blog Entry No. 10

We're in San Francisco, again.
With flowers in our hair, we will discover this wonderful city, with all its aspects.Politically there is much to say about San Franisco: Since the 1960’s, the Summer Of Love, the city has become the liberal center of the United States and a stronghold of the Democratic Party.
The rather left-wing-orientated political attitudes are also reflected in an outstanding law, which is still discussed, which says, that the carrying, possessing and selling of handguns within the city area should be prohibited.
What has happened to the “City of Love”, which San Francisco had been during the flower-power time? Think about Robin Wright’s poster from the summer of love: Flowers coming out of the barrels of the gun.

The people of San Fran are very active: They supported actor Richard Gere during the Tibet conflict, when he was organizing a protest march against the Olympic Torch Run, when the torch was carried through San Francisco. The city was also a big focus of the demonstration marches against the war in Iraq. The up-coming elections are a big issue in the city. Many signs can be seen in the windows of the city apartments saying "Ron Paul" or "Change" and "McCain and Palin" - support with metropolitan charm. You can see joggers running through the city and through the parks, wearing T-Shirts with Obama's face on it or just saying "John for President". This city is political, of course. There are many stories to tell.

Here is the hotel's security man - Samuel, 45 years old, originally from Tuxpan in Mexico, he came to America 20 years ago. Sam has got a little pin on his jacket, which looks like the American flag, he speaks with an strong accent, when he tells me about his disappointment. Sam loves the United States: "It is the best country I could imagine!", but there is one thing, which is really bad for him: Sam is not allowed to vote. Sam has no American citizenship and even if he is living in the United States, his questions was never passed and he never got an American passport. He has been expelled from the country several times, but Sam always came back. Legal and illegal. A marriage with an American woman? Sam laughs: "No, this is not as easy as it sounds. And I do not want to be a criminal!"
Obama would be his choice. "He has charism. Sometimes, when I come home from the hotel, I watch his speeches on TV. When I look in his face I see the hope, that I lost many years ago. He talks about change - and I would vote for him, to be a part of the change, that he will bring as the American President.
"Barack Obama speaks a lot about integration programs and helping immigrants to integrate in the US. A chance for Sam? "America needs an multi-cultural president. The United States are a melting pot of cultures. Our president needs to have experiences, not only theoretically."
Sam does not want to tell much about his past, his story, why he left Mexico. He has no family in America, no wife. He has got two jobs: From 10 am until 17 pm he works in a supermarket in downtown San Francisco, and in the evening from 9 pm until 1.30 am he works as a security man for the hotel. "I got this job over a friend. He works as a doorman in another hotel."

Sam sits in the chair in the little "lobby", a room with a computer and ragtaged chairs and couches. Mirrors are on the walls to make the room look bigger. The carpet had been orange, years ago, now it is a dirty brown, with scuffed ornaments. The hotel clerk is in a back room, a Chinese TV program is playing. Sam sits in the chair, the baseball cap covers half of his face - his eyes are closed, the head sinks deep on his chest. He sleeps. Until the clerk knocks loudly with a ruler on the counter of the reception: "Wake up!", he yells. Sam opens his eyes and rises from his chair - cumbersomely, tired. He will start his next walk around the hotel. He will look if everything is okay. Sam has got a job to do. In a country which belongs to him, but which is not willing to give a hard-working man a citizenship. "I will keep my fingers crossed for Obama - I hope he will win the elections, even if I cannot give him my vote."

Travellers’ Blog Entry No. 9

Our last day in Eureka.

We had been invited by some new friends to join a birthday party. It was a special party - and this became obvious, when I asked our new friend Alex about his political view.

Alex claims himself as "metro-cosmopolitan-sexual-orientated".

His coming-out, one year ago, involved many lost friends and many gossip in a "small" city, like Eureka. Alex loves going out, shopping and he loves travelling. To him nothing is more important to define one's point-of-view and one's lifestyle, than seeing as many different coutries and cultures as possible. Alex had been in Europe (Italy, France, Netherlands and Sweden), in South Africa and in Columbia. He speaks three different languages and is about to learn Chinese - one of the most difficult languages of the world. You see, Alex saw much in his life - poverty and wealth, different political systems and he met many different people.

But Alex won't go to the election in November.

In a former article I spoke about Martina, the woman with the German roots, who rejects to vote for anyone. She was much older than Alex, she'd seen the fall of the Berlin Wall and she'd seen the problems which the fall brought with it. She may had lost her trust in politics.

But Alex must have visions and ideals."I have priorities - and my first prioriety is my own life, my friends, my familiy, my life!" Alex said. "What has politics to do with it?" What first sounds like an ignorant phrase, appears quite clear, when he explains his point-of-view.

"I am so liberal. Once I've been called a Anarchist. To me, every one can do and be what he wants. Who cares if you, as a woman, loves women? It doesn't matter if you are a man and you wear a girl's dress with high-heels. I appreciate the ones who speak out their opinion - whatever comes with it! I do not believe in restrictions - sure we need laws to keep the nation running - but I am a strong fighter for personal freedom. Not only in laws, but in the people's minds!"

Alex' father is a supporter of the Republican party, while his mom is a Democrat. "All doors open for me!", Alex smiled. But he will not vote for the Repubs ("Are you crazy?") and not for the Democrats ("10 percent of myself is a Democrat"). He dealt with the alternate candidates. But to his opinion, none of them is the right person to be the next president of the USA. "Too less charism, too less skills in representation on an international floor.", he said.

Alex will not go to the elections at November, 4th.

"What do these elections stand for?", he asked. "For the impact of the mass-media on to the people’s opinion, the ship-wrecked leadership of George W. Bush and for the next four years of the imotile governmental system of the USA.

He spoke out very loud, when he said: "Do you remember the scene, when Bush wanted to give Chancellor Angela Merkel a massage? When he was shaking her shoulders and she was trying to put his hands away? I mean, he knows, that there were cameras, he knows, that Mrs. Merkel is the leader of a European country - this was a typical gesture like a lump, a bumpkin, not knowing how to behave. Do you want to see such a man as your country leader, as your president? I was so embarrassed, even if I did not vote for Bush."

“I do not see any chance and hope for my country - not with an Obama, not with a McCain."Alex does not want to participate on the one's or the other's success.

"You cannot be interested in watching CNN - the debates are rediculous. They are so easy to see through. Oh, you see that loving mother, who lost her son in Iraq? Oh, you see John McCain shaking the hands of the woman and her husband? See, he's got tears in his eyes, too. Oh, what a nice man - he helps sad families...! Is this really the same man, who said, five minutes ago, that he will accept troops in Iraq for the next 1000 years? I am sorry - I will not go to these elections!"

And Obama? "Oh yes, he speaks a lot about hope and change - but I, myself, do not believe in this big words. Their function is to make you feel better as an American - yes, my country leads unjustified wars, my country is in a huge economic crisis, my country still suffers from discrimination - but it will change. One day. Maybe in some years."

Alex smiled again. "Maybe I am sarcastic, but I am a realist - the problems are deeply anchored in our country. This will take a lot of years to change it. And Obama is too much dependent on to the upper crust, the ones with the money and the impact. And they are not ready to change."

To me, this is a drastic view. Alex spoke with a lot of frustration. Frustration, which maybe comes from living in the USA and being a little different to the mainstream young people.

Alex is talking about discrimination: "I lost my last job, when my boss found out, that I was gay. He did not say that directly, but there was no other obvious reason."

Most of the States of America do not accept same-sex marriages - only California and Massachusetts released a law, which allows thoses unions. "I am lucky to live in California", Alex says. "I could marry my boyfriend here, just as normal as it can be!"

Doesn't this law gives you trust in politics, again? Alex sees it very clear: "We are electing the President of the United States - if only two states out of 50 allow a normal thing like marriages of people who love each other - what do you think: Would this country have a leader which brings "changes"?"

Friends, family, the own way of life - this is what counts for Alex. He wants to be accepted just as he is. To him, no politician represents his values of life. He is not in-between, he is not tired of politics - there is no candidate, who is worth to vote for.

Our new friends from Eureka

Travellers’ Blog Entry No. 8

Cynthia McKinnsey

The Green Party nominated their own candidate for the presidential election. It is Cynthia McKinney, 53 years old. During her time as a Democrat in the representative chamber, she fought for the rights of Blacks.

McKinney's Vice President is the 36 years-old journalist and Hiphop activist Rosa Clemente from Brooklyn, NY. The spokesman of the Green Party Scott McLarty says: "The USA needs an alternative Party." McKinney is the alternative.

She stands for radical changes in the ecological policy (especially ecological sustainability), feminism and sexual equality and the decentralization of wealth and power.
An indication for her success may be the 2004 election, when the team Nader/La Duke got 2.8 million votes for the Green Party. Let's see, if she will be as successful as these two.
She has got great potential: She was a opponent of George Bush's war, at times, when a position like hers was diffucult to hold. She is involved with the victims of the hurricane Katrina, for their rights to return to their houses and their rights to be supported with money of the government. Cynthia McKinney is as left winged as it is possible in the established American policy.
That's the only reason why she has no chance to win this election.

The Green Party has tried for a long time to establish a third part in the two-party-system. The more votes McKinnsey gets, the more the anti-democratic character of that system is shown. Every attempt which had been made to establish a third party failed - they failed at the majority voting system and at the institutional discrimination.
Now protest voters in the USA have got the chance to vote for a woman, who stands - in contrast to Obama and McCain - always on the side of the underdogs: Cynthia McKinnsey.

Travellers’ Blog Entry No. 7

Do we have an alternative?

We are in Eureka now. The North of California has nothing to do with the sunny Los Angeles, with its hot, dry heat and the poshy people, driving expensive cars.
Eureka is much more down-to-earth. The car sellers do not present the newest Mercedes and the exclusive Lamborginis – the top car in Eureka is the Truck. Trucks as far as the eyes can reach. Black, silver and white are the favourite colors. No experiences.
But what about their poitical attitude? Conservative like their cars?

On our way up in the North, we met a woman. She was sitting next to us in a fastfood restaurant in the middle of nowhere. It was early in the morning. When she heard us talking in German, she came over and started a conversation with us – in German.
Martina, 48 years old, came from Germany in the early 80s to stay in America. She married a man from San Diego. She’d almost forgotten how to speak German, but it worked and Martina was happy to hear her mother tongue again.

We asked her about her point-of-view to the political circumstances in America. She had a pretty other view onto the thing, that every other person, we had spoke to.
Martina, in her youth a strong supporter of the socialism, is tired of the politics in America. She watches TV a lot, listens to the speeches of the candidates – she emphazises of “every candidate” – but she will not vote for anyone. “I won’t go to the elections and vote for any candidate.” But why? “It doesn’t matter, if I go to the elections or not.”
My objection, that this isn’t the right attitude at all, because a democarcy can only be kept alive, if every citizen exercise his right to vote.
“Do you see any differences between Mr Obama and Mr McCain?”, she asked. “The candidates are all just puppets of the strong lobbyists. The do not stand for any values, they are functionaries. Nothing more. And there are no alternatives, no chances for other candidates to win against McCain or Obama.”

Where does this dolefulness and frustration came from? Is Martina one of a few people, who do not take part on the election?

We spoke to some students in a café in Eureka. They were talking about the Green Party’s candidate Cynthia McKinney. I asked them if they will go to vote for her or not.
“Why shouldn’t we try it?”, was the answer. “There are alternatives to the bog parties and the popular candidates – and we have the chance to show the people, that they have supporters with a voice, too!”

Who is Cynthia McKinney? What are her political contents? Stay tuned for the next entry.